Testimonials

Our goal for you goes beyond losing weight, because weight is just a symptom of a much larger problem. We want you to become healthier and happier through changing your lifestyle. It is only through a systematic and purposeful process that individuals can break free of the emotional, physical and psychological issues that keep them from living the healthy life they desire. Click here to see what others are saying about their weight loss Journey with us!

Tiffany Agnew's Testimonial:

My name is Tiffany and I currently live in Florida & started struggling with my weight mid-pregnancy with my daughter. We had many complications with her ability to grow in my womb and without resulting to steroid shots, my options were to eat and eat some more, in hope that the extra nutrition would end her growth stunt. By the end of my pregnancy I had a happy and healthy 5lb 11oz little princess, and an excess of 50 extra pounds to carry around. As time went on I lost the majority of the weight through breast-feeding and the extra light exercise that comes with motherhood. Still harboring maybe 30lbs or so I went into restaurant management and quickly discovered that sugar and carbs were my favorite thing in the entire world when they were basically free! Time went on and three years later I was right back where I started, 50 pounds heavier and miserable. I tried multiple diet options and nothing ever worked. They allowed certain things like carbs, sugars, processed foods, and soda into my diet in "moderation" with applied exercise. Trusting these programs and thinking "Moderation, Moderation, Moderation" never got me anywhere.

I had pretty much given up and was ready to except my new body shape until I caught wind of a program that was really working for a lot of people that DID NOT include carbs, sugar, processed foods, and all the other junk I shouldn't be eating. I was curious and since my mother works there and she was using the program and seeing results, I thought why not?!

The first few days were hard but by the end of week one, I felt like a completely different person! I had more energy, all of my chronic stomach pain was gone, and aches in my knees I've had for forever, GONE. Also of course I noticed that I was four pounds lighter and I had lost an inch off of my legs, abdomen, arms, thighs, and waist! I honestly couldn't believe the results I was getting in addition to how good I felt! I've stuck to this program to the T, meaning, no sugar, carbs, processed foods, sodas, candy, etc. In addition, absolutely NO cheat days. It’s now been roughly eight weeks and I've lost 24 total pound!!

My before & after measurements are as followed reading left to right (all in inches):

Chest: 40.5 to 36Arms: 11.75 to 11Abdomen: 35.75 to 30.5Hips: 41.75 to 37Thighs: 26.25 to 22

I feel absolutely AMAZING and I'm still going! My goal weight is 155 and I'm so close I can taste it! I can't wait to report back in another month and see where I'm at! If you're ready to get SERIOUS about weight loss, drop your excuses, and see results, I recommend The Weigh Station in Christiansburg, Virginia! If I can do it from Florida, you can do it there in Virginia!

Jason Smith's Testimonial

Before

After!

Jason Smith

At my highest weight of 372 lbs and a 6’1 frame, I knew I needed to make a change. I had high blood pressure, sleep apnea and was told that I had boarder line diabetes at just 40 years old. But it wasn’t until an accident at work that resulted in me needing a total knee replacement that I started getting serious about losing weight.

The fact that I had to get the weight off to have knee surgery forced me to finally make a change. I had heard about The Weigh Station though my sister in law and she encouraged me to go. I made the call and got started in October of 2015. Little did I know that in less than a year’s time, my weight and health was going to change drastically for the better!

The first month was difficult, I had to make changes to my normal routine like avoiding fast food (although you can still eat some fast food on the program, I made a personal decision not to). I went from eating pasta and lasagna to eating poultry and veggies. It wasn’t easy at first but once you start seeing the weight come off it becomes very motivating to continue. I also noticed I started sleeping better after I hit the 300 lb mark (a weight loss of about 72 pounds). My energy increased substantially and I was able to come off my blood pressure medication after about 3 months on the program. Ultimately it took about 8 months to lose 140 lbs!

Currently I weigh about 220 pounds and feel great. I have had my knee replacement and feel like a new person. My tastes for foods have changed too. At a recent family reunion I had a piece of ham and could tell it had added sugar! I enjoy the tastes of vegetables more. Before I craved pasta and now that I’m in maintenance, my favorite thing to eat is a small sweet potato which I previously hated. I also enjoy summer squash with Parmesan cheese and pepperoni.

One piece of advice is to not get into the mindset that “I’m done” when you lose your weight. This is a lifestyle change. Take advantage of The Weigh Station’s maintenance program and listen to the staff’s recommendations. Add small amounts of what the staff recommends and then see how your body reacts. It’s a balancing game.

I can’t say enough about the staff. They have excellent Bed Side Manner and truly care about their patients. Listen to Dr. Shaffer and you will be successful!

-Jason Smith

Keith Holley’s Testimonial

Keith's Before

Keith's After

Testimonial for The Weigh Station 2015

I am so very grateful to the doctors and staff at The Weigh Station for saving my husband’s life. I know that this statement sounds a bit dramatic but the program has changed our lives beyond measure. Please allow me to describe Keith’s journey.

At 53 years old, Keith was well engrossed in a downward spiral of obesity, high blood pressure and depression. His pain, anger and self-loathing were magnified by his excessive alcohol intake. Although he had battled his weight most of his life it came to a head in May of 2014 when his anger frightened our family enough that we were prepared to leave.

During his adult life, Keith tried diet after diet with no lasting results. He equated eating with comfort but he soon found himself so overweight it seemed impossible to change. He began to have difficulty with high blood pressure and found himself unable to perform his usual activities. People would stare at him and comment about his weight gain which caused him embarrassment and pain. Soon he found himself turning to alcohol to cope with his misery.

He had reached a turning point where he had to decide whether to continue on his self-destructive path or to dig his way out of the quicksand. That was the day he decided to live. He gave up alcohol and called The Weigh Station for help. The doctors and staff there gave him the tools to reach his goals.

It wasn’t long before he was able to see results of his efforts. Now, nearly a year later, Keith is more than 100 pounds lighter. He is sober, happy and is able to run for the first time in many years. I am delighted to have my husband back!

By: Carla Holley, wife of Keith Holley

Michelle Williams’ Testimonial

The first time I realized I was overweight I was in 2nd grade. My parents were divorced and I had visitation with my dad and it was the early 80′s and my dad not trying to be well meaning offered me a rabbit fur coat to lose 5 lbs and my sister a coat to gain a lb. as she was a very thin kindergartner. The next time it came up I was 12 and commented at the end of the summer that I had only gained one lb that summer I went from 125 lbs to 126 lbs and my uncle told me “you are supposed to lose weight not gain it.” I still didn’t know I was heavy unless they had mentioned it.

As I got older I started gaining more weight and I did realize that I was bigger than my friends. When I graduated from high school I was in plus sized clothes and had reached over 200 lbs. I kept gaining until I was 24 years old when I had my first child I was over 250 lbs. I just kept gaining. I tried low fat diets in the 90′s and lost weight but after that I gained even more. I was not good at losing weight. I love sweets and never wanted to try that hard. I even tried low carb once for a week or two. But giving up sweets was not easy for me. I remember once my mom took me to a doctor who gave me diet pills as a teenager.

I came to The Weigh Station after my Mom died. Her cardiologist recommended it after he told her that she was not going to live if she did not lose weight. She had her first heart attack at age 45. She is now 65 and larger than she has ever been. Unfortunately she has not stayed on the program and needs prayer. I was inspired by her initial weight loss and I tried two weeks of Weight Watchers quick start plan and thought if it does not work I will go to The Weigh Station ( I was concerned about the price) I did the Weight Watchers plan to the letter no cheating….and lost not one lb! So Weigh Station here I came!

I have followed the plan every day without cheating… not always coming in for visits because life has gotten in the way but I have stayed involved with patients on Facebook and had not cheated and not gone off the plan. ..I started at 280 lbs and I have gone down 90 lbs in 14 months. I am smaller now than I was when I was in middle school. I have never been this size in my adult life. I feel great! I see the changes in my mirror and I sometimes don’t believe it. I sometimes still see a “fat” girl staring back at me. Photos are where it really comes to life for me.

I don’t like to talk about my story much except to help others get started so they can lose weight. I started the plan in Feb 2014 and my husband started it in April 2014… He has lost 104 lbs! He has completely gotten his diabetes under control. Our lives are completely changed. We are so blessed by The Weigh Station! I can’t say thank you enough!!

-Michelle Williams

David Stilwell’s Story:

David's Before

David's After

I started back to the Weigh Station around mid March of this year. At that time my weight was 277 pounds. I really knew I had to do something. On October 9th, 2013 I weighed 209 pounds and I am still losing. I have set a general goal for 200 pounds and will set another when my current goal is accomplished. The staff is awesome and has been very helpful during the process. I can say to anyone looking to lose some weight you really need to try this, it works!

Deborah Davis’ Story:

My time on Weigh Station

Deborah's after picture!

I have been on the Weigh Station program for 18 months. In that time I have lost almost 70 pounds and many dress sizes. Has it been easy? No. Do I have temptations? Oh, yes. As an educator I have many children who want to show their love and appreciation through the gift of food. They adore bringing me cupcakes, cookies, candy, and cake. Now remember, this is all after I tell them that I cannot have sugar. It doesn’t deter them. They are convinced that I can eat just their gift, and it will be okay. It is amazing how many adults share this same thought process. “Oh, go ahead. Just once won’t hurt you.” Little do they know. Just once turns in to just once a day, then just once an hour and then multiple times an hour. If I could just eat it once, I wouldn’t need the Weigh Station. I take a great deal of pride in the fact that I have been disciplined enough to come this far. I am thrilled to know that the willpower that I thought was gone forever is still there. Will you have temptations? You bet you will! The secret is not that you will never be tempted again, but that you will have the willpower and strength to walk away from them. When you are tempted, remind yourself that it is not that you CAN’T have what you are tempted by, but that you have CHOSEN not to eat it. You have chosen to change your life, your weight, and your way of dealing with food. YOU are in charge of your destiny. You are now in control—not your temptations, not your weight, not the marketing campaigns for the major fast food companies. You CAN do it! Keep the course. If you fall “just once” immediately get back up and get on program. It is a momentary slip, not a major breakdown. Have confidence in yourself and your ability to overcome.

Penny Lloyd’s Story:

Penny's after picture!

Like many, I have battled weight most of my adult life. I have had some success with plans like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Physicians Weight Loss, but all were temporary, and the bad habits and weight quickly returned. About 15 years ago, my desire to do the hard work of losing weight ended. I was tired of trying.

In the back of my mind, I always felt that “one day” I would win my weight-loss battle. I had lost my perspective of time, though. Very slowly, my annual check-ups with my physician turned into semi-annual check-ups and then quarterly check-ups as my health continued to decline – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes with painful foot neuropathy. I was content to live with all the medications and the disruptions in my schedule to visit my internist as long as I didn’t have to make any lifestyle sacrifices, especially in regard to food.

My inspiration to start losing weight began in two steps. A seed was planted when a co-worker lost well over 100 pounds on Weigh Station. I had heard about the program before, but here was undeniable proof that the program worked. Soon after, my husband and I got the news that our son and daughter-in-law were expecting our first grandchild. While my 89-year-old dad’s health continued to decline and my mother’s dementia worsened, here was a bright beacon in my life.

In addition to joy, news that I was going to be a grandmother brought back a flood of memories about my own parents’ role in my children’s lives. They had been there every step of the way while my children grew into adults. Now here I was, 56 and with a plethora of health issues, wondering if I would live to see my grandson graduate from school, get married, and have his first child – all those things my parents had enjoyed. I was slowly killing myself with food, and I had to do something about it. At that moment, that little seed that my co-worker’s weight-loss success inspired in me took root. I called Weigh Station and set up an appointment.

The first week of the program was, honestly, terrible. I didn’t feel hungry as much as confused and weak as I adjusted to the program. Since then, though, it’s been smooth sailing. I’ve lost 55 pounds and have reached my personal goal although I would like to lose about 10 more. Even better, I’m off all my diabetes medications and take a quarter of the blood pressure medication I did previously. I still take a low dose of cholesterol medication. (Everyone in my family has blood pressure issues, even those without a weight problem, so I think I’m sentenced to life on these meds.) My blood pressure is normal and my A1C is below normal. My internist practically did a jig he was so excited with my lab results and scheduled me to come back in six months.

Since being on Weigh Station, I have learned to have a better relationship with food. Now I eat to live not live to eat. I don’t feel deprived, and I love the control I have back over my life. About half way through my weight loss, I went through a brief period of grieving, realizing that I would never be able to eat the way I did before, specifically the simple carbs, such as sweets, bread, and pasta, my body always seemed to crave. I’ve tried to make a sport of this and allow myself to have two desserts a year – that’s it! I had one piece of pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas – both without the crust – and haven’t had dessert in six months. Oddly, I don’t miss these foods and consider them dangerous trigger foods, at least for me.

Now life is good. No, life is great! Thank you, Weigh Station, for giving me my life back and for the opportunity to see my grandchildren grow up – just like my parents! ~ Penny Lloyd

Brenda Miller’s Story

In early 2000 I was told by my primary care physician that I needed to lose between 40 to 50 pounds due to health concerns that had occurred over the past couple of years. When I received this information I was in my mid 50’s and thought I will Never be able to do this! I decided I would go ahead and try. I would lose a few pounds then gain them back. Not really ever being successful or even that concerned.

Then in 2003 our daughter gave us the greatest news for any Mom and Dad, that we were going to be Grandparents. One of the first things that came to mind was what the doctor had told me so many years ago about my weight. I knew then that I had to do something about my weight. I wanted to be around and enjoy my granddaughter and be a part of her life.

My daughter heard about The Weigh Station and knew several people that had started the program so she told me about how it worked knowing I was going to need help losing the weight. So, on August 28, 2008 I went for a consultation with Dr. Shaffer and decided to start the program. I knew it was going to be one of the hardest things I had ever done but knew I had to do it!!!

When it got difficult or I thought I cannot do this, my granddaughter would come to my mind and the joy she brings to my life and that would motivate me to continue on. As time wient on it got easier and the weight came off. It was absolutely wonderful, every weekly visit made me feel so proud of what I was accomplishing.

I have lost 57 pounds and been in maintenance for 4 years. I still go for a weekly B-12 injection and weight in. It helps keep me on track and holds me accountable. In August I will be with the program for 5 years and am proud to say I have maintained the weight and feel great!!! Yes, it is hard, but I know I cannot go back to my old way of eating. For myself as well as my family.

It is a wonderful program!! You have to stay focused and above all you have to want to do this!!!

-Brenda Miller

Deanna Felton’s Story:

I made the decision to walk in the front door of The Weigh Station the second week of December, 2012. Most told me I was crazy to try to get healthy around the holidays but I knew if I didn’t do it, I would pack on another 20lbs. So began my journey that I am very thankful for! I am now 36lbs lighter and still losing.

Judy, one of the nurses at the Weigh Station asked me, “What is different this go around?” For years, even though I had been overweight, each time I went for a physical I received a clean bill of health. But I didn’t feel good, I knew I was overweight and felt ashamed. The eye opener for me was when the doctors at the Weigh Station told me I had insulin intolerance. It was the ammunition I needed to stop eating all the sugar and carbs. Once I stopped the constant cravings for food and my hunger subsided within 4-6 days. My days now are not all about food. I don’t daydream anymore about where I will go for lunch, or what treat I will get myself in the afternoon.

I am very fortunate to have my employer, CCS-Inc. take a vested interest in my health as well. The Weigh Station schedules quarterly health screenings which our company Wellness team has turned into a competition. We are encouraged by the motivating staff at The Weigh Station, my fellow employees, and the leadership team at CCS-Inc. It is extremely helpful to have the backing of the Weigh Station at work and outside of work. Talk about accountability!

I tell folks this is not a “diet” but rather the way I will choose to eat from now on. I am learning how to nourish my body with healthy foods and it feels wonderful! Signing up for The Weigh Station was the best decision I made and perfect timing as I am looking forward to being able to wear shorts this summer without embarrassment!

Thank you to the staff at the Weigh Station and to CCS-Inc.!

Benjamin T. Sweeney’s Story:

My name is Benjamin Sweeney and I’m a 31 year old fire fighter. I struggled with weight loss for a few years before turning to the weigh station in November 2011. During high school I wrestled weighing in around 215 pounds. I was able to maintain at that weight for most of my high school career. In 2000 I attended Longwood University where I pursued my degree in physical education and continued my wrestling career. During my time at Longwood University they cut their wrestling program and I decided to take up rugby. Although I was still active my lifestyle became more sedentary. I went from 215 pounds to 250 pounds in about a year. In 2002 I left college and started working full time. During a three year time frame I put on 80 pounds, weighing me in at 330 pounds. I started to cut weight to pursue my career as a fire fighter. I started the fire academy weighing 300 pounds and through my time in training cut down to around 275 pounds. In 2009 I started training for my EMT intermediate. The pressure of the course and working full time began to weigh on me and I rapidly gained 50 pounds. At my highest weight of 350 pounds I decided to join The Weigh Station. I lost around 40 pounds in my first month! Over the next seven months I followed the program and lost down to 229 pounds. I’m am now joining the maintenance portion of the program and very excited. The employees of the weigh station were very encouraging and knowledgable support system. This program gave me very fast results and has taught me how to make this a lifestyle. Thank you!

John and Ben before

John and Ben after

John Sweeney’s Story:

My name is John Sweeney, I’m fifty-nine years old. I have always been active, and have worked as a firefighter for thirty-six years. But, as the years came and went, my weight simply increased. The weight became a hindrance to my lifestyle. I no longer had stamina, or the ability to do the work I was accustomed to doing. I thought I could work the weight off by exercising more but that became a catch twenty-two. The more I exercised, the more I wanted to eat. To shorten this story; My son used the Weigh Station and had great results, so I joined. The results were almost over night. I literally saw weight loss every day. I calculate that I lost about 1/2 pound a day. I’ve been in maintenance almost three months and sense starting with Weigh Station I’ve lost fifty five pounds. Weigh Station gave me the tools and encouragement to make a great change in my quality of life.

Brandy and Andre’s Story:

When I had my 1st child almost 10 years ago I wore my jeans home from the hospital, however when I had my 2nd child 2 years later I didn’t lose any of the weight and I actually gained more as the years passed by. I became very depressed in the years following due to my weight and also because of a failed marriage which in turn just led to me eating more and of course gaining more weight. I tried several diets over the years but they all failed quickly and would gain back more weight than what I had lost. Andre on the other hand had been physically fit for most of his life due being active and also because of his Law Enforcement career and being in the Navy however in 2000 he had a horrible car accident and he sustained serious injuries. Due to the pain medications and temporary loss of mobility he gained a substantial amount of weight, he tried for years to get the weight back off but was unsuccessful. In 2008 he was deployed to IRAQ for a year and was able to drop 25lbs because of the diet change, working out more and he was drinking A LOT of water due to the really high temperatures over there. However upon returning from his deployment in 2009, he gained back those 25lbs plus more. Knowing that he would be returning from his deployment soon, I did a crash diet the last 2 months before he returned and lost 30lbs myself, however once the “normal” ways returned I gained it all back plus another 20. I worried what kind of example I was setting for my children. I’ve always encouraged my children to be active and play sports but how can I push them to do something that I could no longer do myself?

After seeing several of my friends and a family member join the Weigh Station I became very interested in their new life style. I read over all of the info on the Weigh Station website around Christmas time and was very intrigued to say the least. New Years came and I made the same weight loss resolutions as I always do but this year would be different. My Birthday came in February and of course income taxes too, so I figured what better time than now, and I called and made the appointment. I knew I couldn’t do this by myself so I made the appointment for the both of us. When I told Andre about this, he was very skeptical, said it all sounded too good to be true. He told me he would need to do a little more research. After talking to a friend at work he was told about another co-worker that had lost 200lbs by going to the Weigh Station, he didn’t believe this person until he was shown before and after pictures on Facebook, after seeing this; he was ready to give it a try. March 6th 2012 was the day!!!! This was a very bitter sweet day for me, I was happy to think about the promises that Dr. Shaffer had made but also very upset that I had let myself get this way. Dr. Shaffer told me I was a “carboholic”, he warned me that this journey would be tough especially in the beginning as my body detoxed from all the carbs, he told me about possible withdrawal symptoms from the carbs and the caffeine. He was very upfront and honest and did not sugar coat anything, he prepared us for the worst. We were told from the very beginning that we needed to be completely committed to this new lifestyle. We thought of how we had successfully quit smoking almost two years ago and thought that if we could do that, then we could do this too. The first week was SO hard, I was so hungry and I had no energy, I became very scared that I wouldn’t be able to do this. However, after just one week we both lost almost 10 pounds, this gave us the motivation to keep going! After the 2nd and 3rdweeks we began to see a noticeable difference and so did everyone else around us, the compliments were wonderful and gave us even more incentive. As each day passed it became easier and easier and between the info we received at the Weigh Station, from the website and also from the Weigh Station Winners Facebook page, everything was very clear in black and white. There was no room left for interpretations or any guessing involved. If it wasn’t in the book, then it wasn’t allowed, that simple! After just a little over three months we had both lost 50lbs and we were ready to begin maintenance. Not only did we lose the weight but our overall health improved drastically. Andre was able to stop taking his blood pressure and acid reflux medication that he had taken daily for years. Andre went from a size 36-38 to a size 30-32 and I went from a size 14 to a size 6. We took a vacation in July and for once I wasn’t embarrassed of how I looked. I threw away all of my one piece bathing suits and cover ups and bought several bikinis and I wore them with pride while we were at the beach, haven’t felt this satisfied with myself since high school.

Once reaching maintenance and looking back at what Dr. Shaffer said to us that very first visit, it all makes sense now….this was not a diet, it is a lifestyle change! Since joining the Weigh Station FAMILY, we have been questioned buy a lot of our family, friends and co-workers; they want to know all about our “diet”. Our answer is always the same, the same thing that Dr. Shaffer told us that first day… this is NOT a diet, this is a permanent lifestyle change. If you are committed and are absolutely serious about losing the weight, it will work. We both feel so much better now, about ourselves and about each other and it’s both physically and mentally, and now we can feel great about providing a positive role model for our children.

Teri’s Story:

After quitting smoking, getting married and having two kids I was the heaviest I have ever been. I was so disgusted with the way I looked; I didn’t love myself and wondered how anyone else could love me. I didn’t have any major health issues, but I knew that could change fast if I kept on the path I was heading.

One day while watching the evening news, they were talking about a man that had lost 200 lbs. The story of his journey intrigued me but I did have some concerns. I have tried other weight loss programs over the years to only fail. Also, the news stated that it was a Christian based weight loss program; I’ve never been a very religious person. I got on their web site and learned as much as I could. After talking with my husband and my mother about the program, I decided to make an appointment. I have to admit my husband was supportive but skeptical. He figured it would be like all the other programs I’ve tried, that after 2-3 weeks I’d be back to my old ways.

On April 30, 2011 I joined the Weigh Station family. I past the 3-week mark, even past the 1-year mark and was still going strong. Now after losing 120 lbs I am learning the next step of the program; maintenance. Learning to maintain my current weight is just as important as losing the weight. The program has been a life style change more than a diet.

I am so grateful to the Doctors and Staff of the Weigh Station. They have all become my second family. They know you by name when you walk through the door. Everyone is encouraging, supportive and straightforward; no sugar coated answers.

I have never regretted making that first appointment. No one has ever preached or spoken religion to me. They have been there for every question, concern or problem. I have and will recommend the Weigh Station to others. Whether your 7 yrs old or 70 yrs old, have a little or a lot of weight to lose they can change your life.

Peggy & Ronnie’s Story

Sadly, I have struggled with my weight my entire life. My husband, Ronnie, was not over weight when we first met, but after 25 years of marriage he has a weight problem as well (partially due to the fact that my mother was a fabulous cook and passed that skill down to me). Over the years, Ronnie had watched me try diet after diet only to get discouraged and quit. He just kept telling me it didn’t matter to him how much I weighed; however, it matter to me. I was so unhappy with myself and knew there had to be something out there to help me. I was also concerned about the extra weight Ronnie had gained. I turned to God for help and begin to pray about our situation.

One night while watching the evening news, I saw a story on a patient at the Weigh Station. The story perked my interest and I begin to do some research about this program. My biggest fear was failure, yet I knew I had to take a risk. I made my appointment and started the program on April 7, 2011. My fear of failure led me to not disclose to anyone, including my husband, my decision to join the Weigh Station. The first couple of weeks were hard. I ate exactly what I was suppose to and was very careful to weigh and measure everything. Surprisingly, the weight began to come off. With other diets, losing weight was slow and I would often lose one week and gain the next. At the Weigh Station, the scales dropped each week. The weight loss was motivating; I felt accomplished and confident.

After six weeks Ronnie made a comment about my weight loss. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. I told him I was glad he FINALLY noticed and there was something I needed to talk to him about. I pulled out all the material and explained the program to him. After a couple more weeks of “gentle nagging” he called and made his appointment. On everyone’s first visit to the Weigh Station clients are given a complete physical and EKG. At Ronnie’s exam, the doctors detected a heart abnormality. I am grateful to report that his heart problem has been corrected; however, I continue to be haunted by the fear of what might have happened to my husband if we had not discovered the problem. I feel like the Weigh Station truly saved his life. I often make him say, “Thank you dear for making me go”.

While we both appreciate the changes in our appearance, we also recognize one of the best aspects of our weight loss journey has been the changes in our attitudes. I’ve learned to put myself first and make “me” a priority. I go to the gym regularly, attend a zumba class at our church and truly have fun shopping for new clothes. When I started the program I wore a size sixteen pants. The day I bought pants in a size four is one of the best days of my life. Ronnie has gone from a size 44 waist pants to 36 and is still losing. This has truly turned into a lifestyle change for us both; we don’t think of the program as a diet anymore.

I cannot say enough good things about the doctors and staff at the Weight Station. They have become like family. They have been so supportive and helpful throughout this process. Without hesitation and reservation, I would recommend this program to anyone who struggles with their weight. Ronnie and I both agree it the best thing we have ever done.

Peggy and Ronnie Smith

Katrina’s Story

Katrina Gabbert

At the age of 37 years old I was at the heaviest I had ever been. I was not feeling very great about myself and was feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I have so much to be happy about such as a great husband, a wonderful family and some of the best in-laws a girl could ask for. It still did not take away the feeling I felt of being very uncomfortable.

Then one day something just clicked and I realized I was tired of feeling tired. I wanted to be able to have energy and just feel better in general. I had severe acid reflux and not the greatest of blood pressure. It was time for a change!!!!!!

January 15, 2010, was the day I started dieting. Unfortunately I started with another diet involving drinking protein shakes. I was not eating very much at all. I drank shakes for breakfast and supper and ate a salad for lunch. I lost some weight but come on – I was not eating. There had to be something better and healthier out there.

After praying and talking with my mother-in-law, we found the Weigh Station. I made my first appointment on March 29, 2010, and I’m truly grateful I did.

The Weigh Station has taught me so much. I have learned what to eat, how much and most of all how to get control of my weight. This isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle change. For a long time I made all the wrong food choices, this plan has changed the way I think about food. Food is not comforting, it’s an addiction. When I started this awesome journey I was in a size twenty, I then began maintenance as a size 6 and now 11 months later I’m a size 2! The best thing is that I’m no longer carrying those unwanted 120 pounds. I have the knowledge, strength and willpower to maintain my weight for good. I continue to go to The Weigh Station for maintenance visits every other month. Maintenance follow ups are so important, especially during the first 4 to 6 months (monthly is recommended). These visits ensure that you stay focused on making good choices until you can depend on yourself which I can do now that I’ve been doing maintenance for a while.

For any woman who puts themselves last, my word of advice is for once, put yourself first and get those unwanted pounds off. I’m truly grateful for the Weigh Station and their wonderful staff. I couldn’t have done this without their help.

Living Proof

Jeff Lyerly

My unhealthy eating habits had finally caught up with me, and I found myself unable to do many of the things I loved without sweating profusely and feeling like I was going to pass out. As someone who had always been very active, and as someone who enjoys doing outdoor activities like hiking, getting to the point of weighing over 300 pounds prevented me from doing many of the things I had grown up enjoying. I even had to stop things like giving blood to Red Cross on a regular basis because my blood pressure was above what they would allow for blood donors.

I knew I needed to make a change, but it seemed like nothing I tried stuck. I had tried on multiple occasions to just eat better on my own with varied results, but the one common thread was that I always gained the weight back, and usually ended up gaining back more than I lost. I was stuck in a cycle of wanting to lose weight, but being in such bad shape physically that the exercises that I could do were limited.

I first heard about the Weigh Station several years ago through my brother and sister-in-law, and saw both of them drop a significant amount of weight by following their guidelines. I also started to see other people around me that were a part of the program, and having great success with their weight loss and keeping the weight off after they lost it.

In October of 2010, I finally made the decision that it was time to get serious with my weight loss. When I went in for my initial visit, one of the first things that caught my eye was seeing Philippians 4:13 on the wall, a scripture I’ve lived by for years now. When I started my checkup, I was amazed to climb up on that scale and see 323 pounds looking back at me. I was also amazed by how friendly and encouraging the staff was, even in the little things like telling me they pray for everybody who’s a part of the program. I’ll be honest, the first week of the program was awful! My body tried everything it could to reject the changes I was trying to make, but I was determined to make the changes regardless, and it’s been manageable, and relatively easy ever since then.

The best advice I can give concerning the food is to find variety and get creative within the guidelines. I discovered a lot of ways to prepare fruits and vegetables that I never would have dreamed of a year ago, and I also discovered that the more things I’ve tried, the less I feel like I’m missing out by not eating the things I cut out. The other thing that helped me was exercising. I started out walking as much as I could on the treadmill, which wasn’t much at the time, and gradually and continually increasing the workload by adding things like weight lifting again. I love that I can go hiking up hills now and not even start breathing heavy! As of right now, I’ve lost approximately 125 pounds and my blood pressure has been at a healthy level for months now.

If you’ve struggled with weight loss or learning healthy eating habits, I highly recommend the Weigh Station. They teach you healthy eating guidelines, encourage you to get physically active, and they keep you accountable every step of the way. I’m living proof that the program works if you’ll just determine to stick through it no matter what!

A Graceful Journey

Tom Butterfield

I felt humbled when I was asked to write about my journey with The Weigh Station, for it has not been a journey that I have made alone. I hope that this may be a way for me to “pay it forward”, and maybe help someone else – maybe you.

To give a little background, I am 65 and not too “old” to learn something new. For most of my life I have been a pretty active guy… an athlete in my younger years, and active artist, potter, woodworker and educator for many years; raised a wonderful family; and became an avid kayaker in later life.

Much of that changed however when I became disabled about six years ago, had to retire early, and eventually even had to give up driving. I have also had Type 2 diabetes for about 25 years and have experienced several major diabetic complications over the past 10 years. Needless to say, my active life really changed 6 years ago, and I soon began a long-term weight gain.

The summer of 2010 I found myself in the hospital for several days with a severe respiratory problem. I was placed on oxygen and was later diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (my breathing had stopped 120 times per

hour during a sleep study). My attending physician in the hospital convinced me that I had to lose weight, and he recommended the Weigh Station in Christiansburg.

Shortly after my release from the hospital, my daughter Alex encouraged me to check it out, and took me for a consultation with Dr. Dums, who explained the program to me. It sounded good and I was enthused but somewhat concerned about the cost. I was now retired on disability and living on a fixed income (as you will later see the cost turned out to be well-offset by savings in food costs and reduced medical costs).

After some prayerful consideration, I took a leap of faith and committed myself 100% to the program, asking God to help me on what I thought would be a difficult journey. I met with Dr. Shaffer, who was most encouraging and hopeful. He set up my specific plan and the first step of the journey had begun.

It has been almost a year now, during which all of the staff of The Weigh Station has shared their hope and encouragement with me – wonderful people. My daughter Alex had set up a “food system” for me at the start, carefully measuring out all my food portions, portioning them in baggies and organizing them in the refrigerator. She also printed out shopping guide lists for me and placed a chart on the refrigerator that numbers all of my daily servings of protein, fruits, vegetables and water. I just keep track by moving magnets as I go through the day. It’s a great visual aid that I highly recommend. My daughter Lauren, to whom I am very grateful, has driven me to almost all of my appointments and helped me keep up with my food system. Many thanks also to Irene, who helps me with most of my food shopping, keeping me fed and full of hope.

So, my journey has not been alone. I had promised to be faithful to my effort, and asked God for His help. I have not strayed even a bite from my program, and He has graced me with vigilance, kept me from temptations, guarded me from hunger, changed my appetites and tastes, given me patience whenever I hit plateaus, and to this day has brought me within 9 pounds of my goal, with a loss of 118 pounds.

In the past six months I have come off my insulins, with great blood sugar control; have been taken off of a blood pressure medication and a cholesterol medication; have had my oxygen discontinued and have had my kidney function go from 45% to normal.

My energy level is great, my mobility is greatly improved, and I feel much more full of life. All of my doctors are thrilled, as is my family, who have all been a great support for me. I also thank all my “brothers” and “sisters” at The Weigh Station, and look forward to good things in my life – and hopefully yours.

Weight Loss Without Travel

Beverly Cook

Every time I’ve gone to a European city I’ve lost weight because I walked everywhere! Not so though back in the US. I had 95 lbs to take off that I gained while grieving over my little granddaughter’s diagnosis of cancer and an incurable autoimmune disease. I turned to Weigh Station for help.

My blood pressure was 140 over 90; I had weak knees and a painful back On the outside though I wore my fixed smile; on the inside my heart was in so much pain. I had always fought my weight, but I had never been this heavy.

I immediately felt comfortable at the Weigh Station. I also was filled with hope. Maybe this would be different.

I began to feel different as the weight started to fall off. I was eating better and didn’t feel bloated or stuffed anymore. I looked forward to my fresh fruit for snacks. I learned to use portion control even with the size of the fruit. As I kept learning new habits of eating my weight continued to come off.

It wasn’t always easy. The accolades I got from the Weight Station staff helped so much during the struggles. I learned to ask for help when I needed it—something new for me. A staff member was always there to answer my questions and to encourage me to continue losing.

Reaching my goal of losing 95 lbs was a huge victory, but maintaining the loss is even bigger. A good part of my success here hinges on the accountability with free monthly follow-up maintenance visits I’m doing for a full year at Weigh Station. I started eight months ago and I’m finding these monthly visits essential in keeping me focused because it’s all new and questions pop up as well as concerns about maintaining. The staff is caring and encouraging and gives me the support I need to go back out into the real world armed with the knowledge I need to maintain my loss.

Meeting with the registered dietician when I first reached my goal taught me how to transition from losing to maintaining my weight. This was an area that scared me, but I learned I could maintain my new weight by gradually adding back in healthy foods in the right portions.

Today we are saving money as we prefer to eat at home rather than dining out. Nobody grills fresh veggies as my husband does. But when we do eat out, I now know what to order from the menu to enjoy and still maintain my weight. I continue to make my large crunchy salad for lunch and look for the same when I eat out. I usually ask the restaurant to modify theirs a bit and add more veggies. The variety of our menu is endless. Our food choices are so much healthier than they were before Weigh Station.

Although I didn’t exercise regularly while losing, I did take a water movement class 3 times a week and now I take an aerobics class. I’ve gone from a size 20 to a size 10. My blood pressure is a youthful 120 over 70. All the help I needed was right here in Christiansburg; I didn’t need to go back to Europe to accomplish my dream!

Betty and Glenna’s Testimonial

My sister and I (were) two overweight senior citizens with some serious chronic health problems. Since we lived close to The Weigh Station we decided to stop by to get some information about the program. The staff arranged for us to meet with Dr. Dums to discuss the safety of the program for us personally. Reassured, we both enrolled in the program and have had good success. Whenever one of us hit a plateau, Dr. Shaffer or Dr. Dums' were there to suggest a remedy and as a result we have been able to successfully move forward. In fact, the entire staff at the “Station” are very pleasant and supportive. And so it is with confidence and pleasure that we are able to recommend their services. This has been a safe, pleasant way to lose weight!

Betty Wright and Glenna Rakes

Heather Angle’s Story:

I remember sitting at my desk at work weighing in at 309 pounds in February of 2009 and hearing three of my co-workers talk about this weight loss program called the Weigh Station. I thought yeah right, let’s see how good they do with it. I must admit I was skeptical. As the weeks went by I watched them each lose 7 pounds that first week and then additional pounds after that. Finally being a depressed 35 year old mother of two with high blood pressure and cholesterol, I gave in and decided in April of 2009 to give it a chance. That first week I remember losing 14 pounds! I was ecstatic! Since then I have lost 130 pounds going to the Weigh Station and went from a size 24 pants to a size 6. Last year I decided to take a year off and put into practice what the Weigh Station had taught me. I came back a year later and had only gained one pound. So now I am back with a new goal to lose 15 more pounds. I owe so much to the Weigh Station doctors and staff. They have given me a new life and a new way of living and such great support. Where before I would sit on the sofa, I now hike, walk and do cycle class. If you are looking for a weight loss program that WILL work please make an appointment. You will not be sorry! It was the best decision I have ever made. Thanks Heather Angle.

Dead Man Walking

Rick Benson

April 1st 2010 I “walked” into The Weigh Station in Roanoke completely broken. My life was over. I had given up on everyone and everything. The five hundred and twenty three pounds was just too much for my mind, body, and soul to cope with any more. I was pessimistic as Dr. Shaffer told me he could melt me and the entire time I kept asking myself what am I even doing here wasting this man’s time. One year and five months later I now have the answers to all of those questions, two hundred and seventy seven pounds lighter. God is in control of my life and I live for him. He has put everything in place for me to succeed!

After quitting smoking, getting married and having two kids I was the heaviest I have ever been. I was so disgusted with the way I looked; I didn’t love myself and wondered how anyone else could love me. I didn’t have any major health issues, but I knew that could change fast if I kept on the path I was heading.

One day while watching the evening news, they were talking about a man that had lost 200 lbs. The story of his journey intrigued me but I did have some concerns. I have tried other weight loss programs over the years to only fail. Also, the news stated that it was a Christian based weight loss program; I’ve never been a very religious person. I got on their web site and learned as much as I could. After talking with my husband and my mother about the program, I decided to make an appointment. I have to admit my husband was supportive but skeptical. He figured it would be like all the other programs I’ve tried, that after 2-3 weeks I’d be back to my old ways.

On April 30, 2011 I joined the Weigh Station family. I past the 3-week mark, even past the 1-year mark and was still going strong. Now after losing 120 lbs I am learning the next step of the program; maintenance. Learning to maintain my current weight is just as important as losing the weight. The program has been a life style change more than a diet.

I am so grateful to the Doctors and Staff of the Weigh Station. They have all become my second family. They know you by name when you walk through the door. Everyone is encouraging, supportive and straightforward; no sugar coated answers.

I have never regretted making that first appointment. No one has ever preached or spoken religion to me. They have been there for every question, concern or problem. I have and will recommend the Weigh Station to others. Whether your 7 yrs old or 70 yrs old, have a little or a lot of weight to lose they can change your life.